Legal Program Manager Jobs in Houston, TX (NOW HIRING)

Job Title: Program Manager – Intellectual Property Operations

Job Description

This role leads the operational intellectual property (IP) program for a company that develops and commercializes vehicle products distributed through an original equipment manufacturer (OEM) dealer channel. The portfolio spans both accessory and trim products and complex electromechanical and embedded systems, each requiring different IP strategies. You will own the day-to-day IP program operations, ensuring disclosures, filings, and docket management align with product strategy and portfolio value, while legal opinions and filing strategy sign-off remain with counsel. This position is ideal for an experienced IP program professional who can operate autonomously, work remotely, and collaborate closely with engineering and legal stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Own and manage the operational IP program for a portfolio of vehicle-related products distributed through an OEM dealer channel.
• Oversee IP processes for two distinct product classes: accessory and trim products (such as cargo management, protective, and appearance products) and electromechanical and embedded systems (including battery, power electronics, and vehicle-interface products).
• Ensure that IP strategies appropriately distinguish between ornamental accessory products that may require design patents and complex electromechanical products that demand broad, well-structured utility claims.
• Manage a live patent docket across multiple concurrent patent families, including tracking and meeting all prosecution deadlines.
• Coordinate the preparation, review, and submission of invention disclosures, reducing last-minute, deadline-driven drafting ahead of channel exposure.
• Work with engineers to review technical disclosures for mechanical and electrical systems, probing to identify where the true inventive concepts reside.
• Support counsel in determining appropriate filing paths, including provisionals, non-provisionals, continuations, continuations-in-part, and design patents, while maintaining clear operational control of timelines and documentation.
• Manage questions of inventorship, including for work performed by outside parties, ensuring accurate attribution and compliance with applicable requirements.
• Review and standardize supplier IP terms to promote consistency and alignment with portfolio strategy.
• Collaborate with outside counsel, managing relationships, budgets, and spend, and ensure that counsel activity aligns with portfolio value and business priorities.
• Monitor and document counsel spend and IP program costs, helping to measure and communicate return on investment for the portfolio.
• Support the protection of ornamental consumer products through design patents and trade dress where appropriate.
• Assist in managing IP for products that reach market through distributor or dealer channels, accounting for disclosure timing and commercialization constraints.
• Engage with e-commerce platform IP enforcement programs to help protect the company’s products and IP online.
• Operate with limited supervision on a part-time cadence, proactively identifying issues and driving IP program improvements.

Essential Skills

• 5+ years of experience in IP program management, IP operations, or patent paralegal work within an operating company or IP firm.
• Demonstrated ownership of a live patent docket across multiple concurrent families, including prosecution deadline management.
• Working fluency in U.S. patent procedure, including provisionals, non-provisionals, continuations, continuations-in-part, office actions, design patent practice, Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) applications, and national phase entries.
• Technical literacy across both mechanical and electrical domains, with the ability to read battery, power electronics, or embedded control disclosures and engage engineers to pinpoint the inventive concept.
• Experience determining inventorship, including for work performed by external or third-party contributors.
• Experience managing outside counsel relationships and associated budgets.
• Program management and project management skills, with the ability to coordinate complex IP workflows and timelines.
• Familiarity with manufacturing processes and mechanical engineering concepts sufficient to understand and support IP related to vehicle accessories and hardware.
• Comfort operating with limited supervision and managing responsibilities on a part-time cadence.
• Strong technical writing and program documentation skills, including experience with technical writing and patent review.

Additional Skills & Qualifications

• USPTO registration as a patent agent or attorney with expertise in electrical or electromechanical engineering.
• Experience with battery systems, power electronics, or automotive electrical systems.
• Experience in consumer hardware, automotive accessories, or aftermarket products.
• Experience with design patents and trade dress for ornamental consumer products.
• Experience working with products that reach market through distributor or dealer channels, including managing disclosure timing constraints.
• Familiarity with e-commerce platform IP enforcement programs.
• 10+ years of experience as an IP Manager
• Ability to collaborate effectively with engineering leadership, legal counsel, and supplier partners.
• Strong analytical skills to align IP strategy with product portfolio value and business goals.

Work Environment

This is a remote role that allows you to work from your preferred location while collaborating with distributed engineering, legal, and business teams. You will operate primarily in a digital environment, managing patent dockets, documentation, and communications through online tools and platforms. The work involves regular interaction with technical and legal stakeholders across mechanical, electrical, and embedded systems domains. The position offers flexibility and autonomy, with an expectation of professional, business-appropriate attire for any video meetings or occasional in-person engagements, aligned with a modern, technology-driven professional environment.

This is a Contract position based out of Houston, TX.

The pay range for this position is $100.00 - $100.00/hr.

Individual compensation offered for this position within this range will depend on many factors, including qualifications, skills, relevant experience, job knowledge, geographic location, internal equity, and other pertinent job-related factors.

Eligibility requirements apply to some benefits and may depend on your job classification and length of employment. Benefits are subject to change and may be subject to specific elections, plan, or program terms. If eligible, the benefits available for this temporary role may include the following: • Medical, dental & vision • Critical Illness, Accident, and Hospital • 401(k) Retirement Plan – Pre-tax and Roth post-tax contributions available • Life Insurance (Voluntary Life & AD&D for the employee and dependents) • Short and long-term disability • Health Spending Account (HSA) • Transportation benefits • Employee Assistance Program • Time Off/Leave (PTO, Vacation or Sick Leave)

This is a fully onsite position in Houston,TX.

This position is anticipated to close on Sep 11, 2026.

About Actalent

Actalent is a global leader in engineering and sciences services and talent solutions. We help visionary companies advance their engineering and science initiatives through access to specialized experts who drive scale, innovation and speed to market. With a network of almost 20,000 consultants and 5,000 clients across the U.S., Canada, Asia and Europe, Actalent serves many of the Fortune 500. We are proud to be an Engineering News-Record (ENR) Top 500 Design Firm for our engineering design services and a ClearlyRated Best of Staffing® winner for both client and talent service.

The company is an equal opportunity employer and will consider all applications withoutregard to race, sex, age, color, religion, national origin, veteran status, disability,sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information or any characteristic protectedby law.

If you would like to request a reasonable accommodation, such as the modification oradjustment of the job application process or interviewing process due to a disability,please email actalentaccommodation@actalentservices.com for other accommodation options.

San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance:Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, for all positions located in thecity and county of San Francisco, we will consider for employment qualified applicantswith arrest and conviction records.

Massachusetts Lie Detector:It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as acondition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this lawshall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI):We may use Artificial Intelligence (AI) to support parts of our hiring process,including sourcing, screening, and evaluating candidates. AI helps assess applicationsand qualifications, but final decisions are made by our hiring team. By applying, youacknowledge and agree that your application may be reviewed using AI tools.